Process of ore flotation and flotation agent



Patented July 7, 1931' UNITED s'rArEs PATENT oFFmE IRA H. DERBY AND OBIN D. CUNNINGHAM, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ABSIGNOBB TO PETER C. REILLY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA PROCESS OF ORE FLOTA'IION AND I'LOTATION Ho Drawing.

The resent invention relates to improvements 1n ore flotation, including the froth-' I flotationof sulfide ores, and other: metalliferous material by the use of certain com-.

flotation collecting agents and constituting a class of com ounds that has not heretofore been used in t e art of flotation.

The present application is in part a continuation of matter from our copending case Serial Number 96,061, filed March 19, 1926. More particularly, our present invention embraces the concentration of ore material by froth-flotation while using reaiglents con-, taining roducts of reaction of p osphorus 2o sulfides such as the trisulfide, P s or pentasulfide, RS with organic nitriles (aromatic or aliphatic) such as, for example, benzonitrile, tolunitrile and phenylacetomtrile, acetonitrile, pro ionitrile and ing agents,.but also showing some frothing action, when used.

Generally stated it is suflicient to select the desired organic nitrile compound, and to react thereupon with phosphorus pentasulfide or other sulfide of phosphorus, or even with a mixture of yellow phosphorus and sulfur, the reaction being performed in a suit? able container, and at a temperature sufliciently high to cause reaction to take place. In some cases it may be'found advisable to employ a mixture of compounds, some of which apparently function as solvents, and may also function as both solvents and reacting materials. Y For the preparation of the phosphosulfo compounds referred to we give the following specific example One part of powdered phosphorus pentasulfide and about 3-5 parts of benzonitrile are mixed together and heated at 100 to 115 0., or thereabout, with constant stirring, until the reaction is complete as evidenced by the disappearance of solid phosphorus pentautyronitrile. 9.5 These reagents unction not only as collectabove example may be applied in chemically combining organic nitriles with hosphorus Application filed December is, 1980. Serial No. 502,858.

sulfide from the reaction mixture. The reaction product is a syrupy liquid. 4 In a similar manner other organic nitriles such for example as phenylacetonitrilean tolunitrile or the aliphatic nitriles mentioned k react with phosphorus pentasulflde at about 100 to 115 0., to form liquid products possessing flotation activity. 7

When using the lower phosphorus sulfide, P s this same temperature can well be em--- ployed, but when usin yellow hosphorus and sulfur, it is advisab e to heat igher, say to about 180 (3., to initiate the conversion of P and S into P S, or P 8 These temperatures are subject to considerable variagilon, and are given by way of illustration 0 y. I

In the example given above, pure chem- 'icals were used, but we canalso use crude chemicals, with practically as good resultsym except that it is preferableto use anhydrous materials. v

We do not limit our claims to the quant1t1es of reacting substances herein named.

The general procedure indicated in the pentasulfide. In some instances igher temperatures may be employed to hasten the desired chemical'coinbination and in other cases the reaction may desirably be carried out at lower temperatures. This may depend somewhat on the amount and character of impurities present.

The phosphosulfo compounds above referred to can be used in froth-flotation, either alone or mixed with other materials having flotation value, or with solvent agents or mixtures of the same. Usually we also add pine toil, or cresylic acid or other frothing agen The products obtained b the reaction of v the organic nitriles with osphorus pentasulfide, as illustrated in t e above example, can be employed in the froth-flotation of a copper sulfide mineral and will be found to possess high flotation activity. The reagents can be used in an alkaline, acid or neutral circuit, depending on the conditions to'be met.

In the flotation of ores the amount of the reaction product used can vary between wide limits depending upon the character of the ore, for example .Q lb. of'the be'nzonitrile reaction product can be used with a ton of 5 low grade copper sulfide ore.

In the present case we have described the use of organic nitriles as substances to react with phos horus sulfides to form a flotation rea nt. e have given several examples of m suc nitriles which are oplerative for the purpose and we believe t at certain closely related nitriles can be used though there are others thatwill not serve. The expression or anic nitriles as used in this case is accor 'n ly to be construed as coverin the examp es 'ven herein and products so 0 osely related t ereto as to function in alike manner.

What we claim is go 1. In the art of froth flotation the step of floating material to be concentrated in the presence of the herein described flotation agent which comprises a reaction product of a phosphorus sulfur compound with an I organic nitrile.

2. A process which comprises froth flotation while in the presence of the herein 7 described flotation reagent which is a reaction product of a phosphorus sulfur compound and a substance selected from the herein described group consisting of benzonitrile, tolunitrile and phen lacetonitrile. 3. A process whic comprises froth flotation while in the presence of the herein described flotation reagent which is a reaction product of a phosphorus sulfur comound and a substance selected from the erein described group consisting of acetonitrile,1propionitrile and butyronitrile.

4. n the art of froth flotation the step of floating. material to be concentrated in the presence of the herein described flotation agent which comprises a reaction product of r a phosphorus sulfur compound of an aro- 4 matic nitrile. I

5. In the art of froth flotation the step of floating material to be concentrated in the presence of the herein described flotation agent which comprises a reaction product of a phosphorus sulfur compound with an aliphatic nitrile.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this s cification.

I A H. DERBY.

at 01am D. CUNNINGHAM. 

